The Portland daily press., 1887-12-17

NEW YORK, Dec, 16.-The Worlds Ottawa
correspondent says there is considerable ex-
element there over the reports that two
clerks in the Department OF Fisheries have
been furnishing prIvategovernmen informa-
tion to a United States contingent OF fish
cries men. An investigation is understood
to have been ordered.
Mr.. Chamberlain Hopeful.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16-Mr. Joseph Cham
berlain insists that the reports Of prospect
i've disagreement Of the fisheries conference
are not correct. He said in an interview to-
day: "Any statement whatever on that sub
ject would bea violation Of the compact to
keep the negotiations a secret. II were to
say anything one way or the other about the
question raised 1t would be violation OF
that compact, and as the statements pub
lished, whatever they may be, have not come
from any one engaged IN the negotiations, II
seems to follow that they have NOT come %
from anyone who Is competent TO speak from
knowledge"
"Then you probably do not feel at liberty
even TO say how much more time you may
think will be required to complete the nego-
THAT would be a very difficult thing TO
say, even II there were no obligations Of Sc
erecy These things, you know, can not and
should not be hurried Ii Is always more sat
isfactory to proceed with slowness and dellb-
Grafton on question between two friendly
nations, both willing to do what Is fair and
right. Nothing but satisfactory agreement
can be the outcome OF a candid c0nsidera-
tion Of the whole subject In the conference"
One Of the Rumors.
The terms of concession which Mr.. Jo-
seph Chamberlain Is willing to grant to the
American fish "negotiators'' are rather pc
culiar. The United States has always held
chat Behring Sea Is a mare clausum, or
closed sea, and have captured a number Of
Canadian fishing vessels for trespassing
there
Now Mr. Chamberlain comes with his
terms of concession, and says that II the
United States government will declare Beh-
ring Sea an open sea, and allow the Canadf-
ans all the rights there, and also pay, an in
demnity which they claim Is due on the SELF
ures Of about twenty Of the Canadian yes
sells during the last two years, and which is
estimated at 100000, then the English and
Canadian authorities will grant all the prtvi-
leges asked for by American fishermen on
the eastern coast. Secretary Bayard and
the American "negotiators" are thinking
over the matter.
The AnnexatIonists.
OlIAWAf Outss OCCs dtCdt C&CAtChiDhb
has been caused here in political circles over
the statement that Hon. John Ellis. member
Of the Dominion Parliament, has announced
his intention of coming out squarely as an
advocate of annexation to the United States
While many quiet hints have been thrown
out indicating which way the wind was
blowing, no one has until now, as member
Of Canadian parliament dared to advocate
separation from the British empire.
In view Of the apparent collapse OF the
fishery commission. several other members
Of Parliament, including Hon. A. G.. Jones
of Halifax, IL Is understood, will come out
openly during the coming session. not man
In favor of commercial union, but In adv0ea-
cy Of annexation to the United States.
The Newfoundland Bait Act.
GLOUCESTER. Mass, Dec. ga despatch
was received today by MIR. George Steele,
from st. Johns, N. f., stating that the bait
act, which was passed by the Legislature
and by that colony, has received royal assent.
1t fOrbids the catching by, OF sale Of bait 70
foreign fishermen, and goes into effect Janu-
ary I'd next